Father Francisco Ayerra de Santa Maria (1630-1703), born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is considered to be Puerto Rico's first native born poet.
Santa Maria attended primary school in San Juan. At a young age, he went to Mexico where he enrolled in the The University of Mexico . He earned a degree in Canonic Law. Santa Maria was ordinated a preist in Mexico. That's where he wrote most of his works and became very successful as a poet. His Poetic style was known as cultural, because it was based on religious and historical themes. He wrote his verses in both Spanish and Latin. His work has been included in many anthologies.
Santa Maria became the first rector of the Tridentino Seminary in Mexico.
Father Francisco Ayerra de Santa Maria died in Mexico in 1708.
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